“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
— Rachel Carson
My daily walks on the Appalachian Mountain ridges of Virginia confirm the validity of Rachel Carson’s words. As an Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner for the past month, I’ve walked the same 80-mile section of this famous trail twice. I’ll start out on the same section again today, monitoring the conditions of the trail, meeting hikers both experienced and novice, and basking in the beauty of the mountains.
Indeed, the more I walk the trail, the more I feel a deep connection to enduring qualities, those expressed by Nature. In the very rocks themselves, eons of slow change hold stories formed long before history began. In the trees, season upon dependable season of patterns hold lessons of patience. In the cautious animals – the deer, the bear, the lizards – I see Nature’s totems, reminding me to embody gentleness, introspection, and adaptability.
The beauty of Nature in these mountains is limitless, only requiring my attention, my willingness to take the time to walk the pathways set aside for re-creation. I join Rachel Carson in encouraging you to create time for yourself to “contemplate the beauty of the earth” wherever you are.
What are your thoughts about the healing qualities of experiences in Nature?
In joy,
Regina